Multiple racers clinch Lucas Oil championships

Doug Gordon doubled down in Las Vegas, and Jackie Fricke also won a LODRS title at The Strip at LVMS over the weekend.
Bob Johnson/NHRA

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series took to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the final two divisional events over five days of racing action from Nov. 2-6.

When the dust settled, two drivers had clinched NHRA Lucas Oil World Championships, Top Sportsman and Top Dragster presented by Racing TV's champions were crowned, both Top Fuel and Pro Fuel championships were decided in the NHRA Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series and Lucas Oil Regional and Divisional Championships were finalized across the country.

Nick Folk and Mia Tedesco wrapped up their Lucas Oil championships in Super Comp and Super Gas, respectively. Folk held on to his points lead as Steve Williams and Christopher Dodd lost in early rounds, while Tedesco was became the first woman to win a LODRS Super Gas title when Tommy Philips and Brad Pierce dropped out.

"I didn't tell myself I won anything until it was truly official. It hasn't sunk it yet, but it sure is awesome."

Mike Williams took the top spot in Top Sportsman presented by Racing RV's when he won the first event of the weekend then locked up the championship with a runner-up finish to Roy Cracraft, who took the event title on Sunday. Jeff Strickland covered the field in Top Dragster to win both the Top Dragster presented by Racing RV's Championship and the event title.

Strickland overtook Steve Furr in the points and held off Matt Driskell in the chase.

Strickland defeated Tony Jardino in Sunday's final. Strickland also leads the Stock Eliminator Lucas Oil Championship with Brad Burton still in the hunt going into this coming weekend's Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.

In the Harley-Davidson Drag Racing Series, Jay Turner put an exclamation point on his championship season as he also took home the event win at The Strip, beating Rickey House in the final round. Janette Thornley defended her championship in Pro Fuel from a year ago with a semifinal finish to hold off Dennis Fisher in the points.

More than 800 racers were also battling for event wins, with Jackie Fricke and Doug Gordon leading the charge in the Top Alcohol classes.

Fricke would face off with Jonny Ahten in an east versus west final in Top Alcohol Dragster. Fricke, of Flemington, N.J., clocked in at 5.367 seconds, 274.33 mph to beat Ahten, of Santa Clarita, Calif., to the finish line. Ahten posted a runner-up pass of 5.415 seconds, 261.32 mph.

Doug Gordon of Paso Robles, Calif., followed his victory on Thursday with another resounding victory over Shane Westerfield of Anaheim, Calif., in the Top Alcohol Funny Car final. Gordon made a winning pass of 5.587 seconds, 263.10 mph, as Westerfield had problems and slowed as he watched Gordon take the win.

Doug Lambeck of Northridge, Calif., battled through a tough Comp Eliminator field to win following his runner-up effort on Wednesday. Tony Mandella of Riverside, Calif., took the early lead, but Lambeck was able to surge past him and take the stripe for the win.

Lambeck's win was recorded at 8.497, 151.83 to Mandella's runner up pass at 8.536, 153.70.

In Harley-Davidson Series action, Quinn Olson joined Turner in the winner's circle, taking the win in Pro Fuel over Bill Bentz. Olson clocked in at 7.423, 178.71 to Bentz's 7.510 at 175.78.

Turner covered the quarter-mile in 6.369 seconds, 223.02 mph in his win over Rickey House. Hometown rider Kahea Woods came in at 8.827, 147.18 to defeat Pete Miclette Sr. of Garberville, Calif., 8.860, 147.02 in Sportsman Motorcycle presented by Harley-Davidson.